SCHENECTADY Inn for families of sick, hurt kids planned BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
By next year, a homegrown version of the Ronald McDonald House likely will be open in Schenectady for families of those in long-term rehabilitation. The home, within walking distance of Ellis Hospital and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, will be called Jack’s Place. The Falvo family has been raising money for five years for the home, named in memory of Jack Falvo III, who died at age 21 in a Jet Ski accident. He was the son of Jack Falvo Jr., assistant chief of the Schenectady Police Department. Family members have finally raised enough money to buy 1100 Nott St., but they will have to take out a small mortgage, which they hope to pay off through future donations. Even then, they still have a long way to go before they can greet their first guests. They have to get city approval for the plans, and then they must renovate the building, converting downstairs offices into bedrooms. There are six bedrooms in the house now. They hope to add four more. “Our goal is 10 bedrooms. It’s based on the need,” Jack Falvo Jr. said. Every day, 10 to 12 family members, who travel for hours to visit loved ones in rehab at Ellis and Sunnyview, have difficulty affording both the travel and a hotel room, according to the hospitals. ...............>>>>......................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00901&AppName=1
SCHENECTADY Council rejects medical hospitality house near Ellis BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
The City Council has rejected the idea of a medical hospitality house that would serve the families of sick children at Ellis Hospital. “It doesn’t appear there’s support in changing the [zoning] code,” Councilwoman Margaret King said. The sticking point was the location of the house in question. It is in the GE Realty Plot, a historic district of single-family homes and mansions built long ago for the most esteemed General Electric workers. Those residents opposed the idea, saying they support medical hospitality houses — but not in their neighborhood. The issue began when the council was asked, by the family of its assistant police chief, to create a new zoning for such houses. The house was to be named Jack’s Place, in honor of Jack Falvo III, who died at 21 in a Jet Ski accident. His father, John Falvo Jr., is one of the city’s assistant chiefs. Michael Brockbank, who supports the project, offered to sell his house at a belowmarket-value figure to create Jack’s Place. The house is across the street from Ellis Hospital. But after other residents protested, city officials crafted a zoning ordinance that would allow medical hospitality houses within 150 feet of medical buildings, but not in historic districts. At last week’s public hearing, the Falvo family asked that the exemption be dropped, while GE Realty Plot resident Ben Wiles told the council that a medical hospitality house would not be an appropriate use of a historic building. On Monday, the council agreed with Wiles. “First of all, I think we need to protect all our historic homes and exclude them,” said Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo. She said sprinkler systems and other safety devices required for multiuse buildings would “tear up” a historic house. Other council members said there was no need for the house to be located within 150 feet of a hospital. The Ronald McDonald House in Albany is a quarter-mile from Albany Medical Center Hospital, Council President Denise Brucker noted. “Certainly 150 would be convenient,” she said. “I don’t think we should arbitrarily pick a number. Right now we’re limiting them.” Mayor Gary McCarthy offered to show Brucker maps detailing the number of houses to choose from at 150 feet, 250 feet and other distances, but Brucker declined. Zoning Officer Steve Strichman said that Ellis Hospital officials, not the Falvo family, wanted the house to be “very close.” But Brucker said that was not a compelling argument because the hospital “has a lot of skin in this game, since they’re not paying taxes either.” The hospitality house would be tax-exempt as well. Perazzo said changing the zone might bring in undesirable medical hospitality houses, including ones that are run poorly. “Once we change the code, anyone can have a medical hospitality house,” she said. Councilman Carl Erikson added that he doesn’t want to change the zoning and inadvertently create a way for halfway houses for prison inmates. The council stopped a proposal for a halfway house by calling for a lengthy analysis of its zoning code, which has now been completed. There are now provisions in the code regulating — and allowing — halfway houses. Council members said they would reconsider if the organizers propose a specifi c address and are turned down in the zoning and planning process — which city offi cials believe is likely. The zoning board already heard the case last year. Because medical hospitality houses do not exist in the city’s code, a request for one is almost certainly going to be denied, Strichman said. “So in some way, I think we should address this,” he said. ...........................>>>>............................>>>>........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01401&AppName=1
It would be historic if the proposal was put into effect......protection of the city's historic district is a little too late....especially in the downtown area...
We need tp tale care of what is precious.....family......support to our ill children...
I support having "Jack's" house wherever it may be....especially close to the Hospital....why are we making it harder on those who need our help.....
But Brucker said that was not a compelling argument because the hospital “has a lot of skin in this game, since they’re not paying taxes either.” The hospitality house would be tax-exempt as well. Perazzo said changing the zone might bring in undesirable medical hospitality houses, including ones that are run poorly.
I have NEVER called anyone this before but I know it fits - these two are douche bags
The Falvo's should be able to have Jacks House where ever they want. A house for families of the ill is a REAL non profit.
I agree with rpforpres that Jack's Place should be able to be built where ever there they want preferably near the hospital to make it easier for the people who really need the service.
Union College owns several of the houses, and in the late 20th century decided to convert some of them to administrative offices and student housing. Residents objected, citing the deed covenants and zoning that prohibited business uses, and filed suit. In 2001 a state appeals court upheld a lower-court ruling in the college's favor. As a nonprofit the college was not a business, and its presence predated the creation of the Plot and its deed covenants, so the framers of those covenants would have likely included language explicitly restricting college-related activities if that had been their intent.[10] It converted the Parker-Rice estate at 1128 Lenox Road into offices for its fundraising and alumni relations departments. An attempt to have the state's Court of Appeals, its highest, hear the case was denied.[11]
I thought that the policy in Schenectady was to tear down historic buildings.
LOL! Only Downtown if the DEM morons are involved. This is more partisan nit wit politics from the DEM implosion squad. They want to screw Brockbank because he supported Roger Hull. So much for helping sick kids or parents in need. Good luck finding another 10 bedroom house near Ellis or Sunnyview.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Logged
LOL! Only Downtown if the DEM morons are involved. This is more partisan nit wit politics from the DEM implosion squad. They want to screw Brockbank because he supported Roger Hull. So much for helping sick kids or parents in need. Good luck finding another 10 bedroom house near Ellis or Sunnyview. 
